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Cloaca And Salt Glands Explained
- Birds use a cloaca for excretion and reproduction, an efficient combined outlet distinct from mammals.
- Many seabirds also have salt glands above the beak to excrete excess salt and drink seawater.
Feathers Reflect Mating Systems
- Sexual dimorphism links to mating systems: where females choose, males become ornate; reversed roles occur when females compete.
- About 90% of bird species are socially monogamous, but mating systems vary with resource defense and lekking behavior.
Hummingbird Wingbeat And Metabolism
- Hummingbirds beat wings ~53 times per second on average, up to ~80 at peak records.
- They consume only a few calories daily and must feed immediately after dawn to avoid dying overnight.